Saturday, September 3, 2005

This award goes to the best assist served up by a U.S. National Team player in an international match played this year. This award will be judged on technical merit alone, as opposed to the importance of the match in which it took place.

Click the 'Vote' button below to launch the video player and vote. All the assists are part of one continuous video.

THE FINALISTS:

Justin Mapp vs. Denmark – Jan. 20 @ The HDCJUSTIN MAPP creates the game-winning goal with an impressive dribbling run on the right edge of the penalty area where he splits two defenders and then slots a pass to a crashing Jonathan Bornstein.

Brian Ching vs. Ecuador – March 28 @ TampaBRIAN CHING sets up the game-winning goal with a fantastic through ball to Landon Donovan. With his back to goal, Ching collects the ball near the midfield stripe, smartly turns and slips the ball behind the defense to slingshot Donovan on the breakaway.

Carli Lloyd vs. Canada – May 12 @ FriscoCARLI LLOYD ties up the Canadian defender’s feet with a little “stop-go” move down the right flank, then finds the seam perfectly from the end line to the sprinting Kristine Lilly, who slams the ball home.

Sacha Kljestan vs. China – June 2 @ San Jose SACHA KLJESTAN earns his first point in this first cap with one touch from the right sideline, as he chips the ball into space for Benny Feilhaber to run onto and chip over the ‘keeper and into the goal.

Taylor Twellman vs. Paraguay – July 2 @ BarinasDown 1-0, TAYLOR TWELLMAN stretches out to get his leg to a cross and direct it backwards, perfectly into Ricardo Clark’s path so he could drill a low shot from 18 yards out.

Sal Zizzo vs. Poland – July 3 @ MontrealStealing a ball in the USA’s defensive half, SAL ZIZZO goes on a staggering half-field sprint, outracing two defenders and slipping by a third then picking out Freddy Adu who finished the chance from top of the area.

Freddy Adu vs. Brazil – July 6 @ OttawaTied 1-1 late in the match, FREDDY ADU creates the game-winner with a jaw-dropping move. Trapped by two defenders in the corner, Adu flicks the ball past both Brazilians and darts into the area where he rips a shot that deflects off a defender directly to the wide-open Josmer Altidore for the finish.

Cat Whitehill vs. New Zealand - Aug. 12 @ ChicagoCAT WHITEHILL drops a perfect long ball over the restraining line, putting it just over the defense, but not close enough for the goalkeeper to make a play, and Abby Wambach executes a perfect diving header for the goal.

Steve Cherundolo vs. Brazil – Sept. 9 @ Chicago With the U.S. trailing 2-1, STEVE CHERUNDOLO runs onto an overhead pass from Landon Donovan and races into the penalty area before smartly picking out Clint Dempsey for his one-timer into the lower left corner.

Kristine Lilly vs. Sweden -- Sept. 14 @ Chengdu, ChinaKRISTINE LILLY gains control on the left flank and spies Wambach making a run into the penalty area. She sends a perfectly placed and weighted pass in the air to the U.S. striker, who brings it down on her chest before lashing a venomous half-volley for the goal.

AOTY Finalists Nomination Criteria

Athlete of the Year (Male and Female)
The Athlete of the Year should be voted on the basis of:

Competing and excelling at the highest level (both at the National Team level and the professional level) during the calendar year

Exhibiting decorum on and off the field which reflects well on U.S. Soccer

Contributing toward the growth, development, credibility and popularization of soccer in the United States.

Young Athlete of the Year (Male and Female)
This award is designed to highlight a young, up-and-coming player, who has excelled at the Youth National Team level for U.S. Soccer within the last calendar year. The award should be voted on the basis of:

Competing and excelling at the Youth National Team level (as well as the professional or collegiate level) during the calendar year, including appearing in at least one international match for a U.S. youth national team in the calendar year

Exhibiting decorum on and off the field which reflects well on U.S. Soccer,

Contributing toward the growth, development, credibility and popularization of soccer in the United States

Displaying potential to succeed at a high standard in the years to come.

Note: An athlete can only win this award once in their career. (Jozy Altidore won in 2006 and Freddy Adu won in 2003)

About "Best of U.S. Soccer" Awards

Started in 2002, U.S. Soccer’s “Best of” awards honor the standout performances on and off the field during the calendar year in American soccer. Fans are given the opportunity to nominate candidates for a handful of the award categories, and then hand out the honors by voting on-line at ussoccer.com. In all, the “Best of” series has handed out 54 awards out to soccer players, bars, stores and even fans in the United States over the past fiver years (check out the list of winner’s here).